Story Stacks - Fire Station, By HeyDoodle - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Innovative silicone colouring mat in room-arrangement theme 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Colouring and Art & Craft lovers. I love how HeyDoodle incorporates story-telling and design layout elements in the set! 

“Story Stacks - Fire Station” is a creation that is uniquely HeyDoodle. It inventively explores 3D visual concept using silicone colouring mats. We found this refreshing, fun, like nothing we had ever seen before! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) 8 Room Tiles -You get 8 silicone room tiles; each in a shape of modular hexagon. The room design gives a three-dimensional visual space from a two-point perspective, which reminds me of an interior-designer portfolio with meticulous details. We had marvellous time admiring the room; there is a vehicle storage space with fire truck, “changing room” with firefighter garments and gears, brigade training room, firehouse gym with fitness equipment, dorm room with bunk beds, lavatory, and a food pantry. Best of all, there is a tile with an “empty space” for you to design your desired space for the firefighters! 

(2) Create & Arrange - This is an activity where two or more kids (or adults) can collaborate design ideas. I LOVE working side-by-side with my girl, filling-out the rooms with colours that make us happy. I love arranging the room in different layouts. We have interesting discussion about what is the BEST way to build a functional fire station that can respond to an emergency quickest (perhaps fire truck should place right next to the changing / equipment room, but the girl thinks it’s a great idea to have the food pantry next to it too - “just in case anyone needs to grab a banana for a quick “energy snack” while on the way to the fire!”). 

(3) Character Tokens - The set includes 8 double-sided character tokens to encourage kids to “give lives” to the rooms. One side of the tokens shows the characters in their firefighter gear, the other side shows us the “everyday normal” appearance of these characters. My girl immediately dived into her story-telling mood, sharing a story about Penny and Sammy the firefighters who saved the day. I love the female representation in a commonly male-dominated career. 

(4) Wipeable - Also included are 12 HeyDoodle fine-tip and non-toxic markers. These Story Stacks are reusable, washable, and wipeable with a slightly damp cloth. I also LOVE the travel-easy metal storage tin case. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://heydoodle.com.au/products/storystacks-fire-station

Enjoy the video! 

Butterfly Knob Puzzle, By Qtoys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Thick & Chunky Butterfly Wooden Puzzle  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  1 - 3 year-old  

Who would love this: Young kids! I think this is a beautiful "starter puzzle" for small children. 

It’s hard to resist a beautifully-crafted wooden puzzle, especially when it’s coming from a brand that is known for its sustainable quality. We found this Qtoys “Butterfly Knob Puzzle” from our local toy library recently, and we were instantly captivated by its beauty. 

 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 9 Pieces Puzzle - Mr Butterfly sure has his attitude! Arms crossed and with a smug (but friendly) grin, it’s as if Mr Butterfly is eagerly waiting for kids to take up the puzzle challenge and brace themselves for some entertaining logic test! This puzzle has 9 removable pieces. There is an “obvious” six-legged yellow body that would be positioned right at the middle, separating two pairs of stunning wings of symmetrical patterns (4 puzzle pieces on each side). First, the kids would need to match up 4 sets of two “identical” pieces that have the same shape and size. However, as the pattern of the corresponding pieces are painted in “mirror image”, the kids would need to figure out which of it belongs to the left and which other belongs to the right. What you need is a use of visual discrimination, and a little of trials-and-errors. 

(2) Base With Outline - The base shows the black outline of the shape of the puzzle pieces, which is a nice touch to provide some hints to the kids on where a particular puzzle piece should be placed. I love it gives kids an opportunity to “self-correct”. I love that the puzzle is easy, with a hint of challenge, but not overly complicated. 

(3) Bright Colours - I love  the “daring” use of colours. The wings are in red/ brown, blue/ yellow, black/ white, and green/ pink. They are vibrantly attractive! 

(4) Solid & Chunky - The base and the puzzle pieces are very chunky (and probably the thickest type I have ever seen). The base is a little heavy and solid. I love the smoothly-polished knobs on each puzzle pieces. I love how the knobs seem to “blend in” beautifully into the wings design and give a “3D dots” element to them. The round pegs are useful for training up pincer grasp skill of young kids. 

(5) Safety Compliance - Qtoys are made of plantation timber using non-toxic, child-safe materials, and are in-compliant with strict safety standards. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.qtoys.com.au/shop/wooden-toys/science-and-culture/butterfly-knob-puzzle/

Enjoy the video! 

Anamalz Moose, By Anamalz - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Uniquely-designed, sustainable animal figurines 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Anyone!!! Especially if you are searching for a perfect Christmas stocking filler. 

Today, I’m going to talk about another of my Anamalz favourites: this festive-looking, Christmassy-feel Anamalz Moose! If you are looking for a sustainable, long-lasting stocking filler, this is YOUR amazing choice! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Uniqueness - It’s hard to resist Anamalz - they are ORIGINAL, unique, and instantly-recognisable. Anamalz is the WINNER of 15 Industry Toy Awards! Their collection of figurines are exquisitely crafted by cleverly integrating different materials - from wooden craftwork, cotton rope, fuzzily soft fabric, and sometimes, Thermoplastic Rubber (or TPR, an eco-alternative to plastic). This moose has the sweetest and most demure look that melts my heart. Mr Moose has soft velvety small ears, broad antlers with beautiful curvy branches at the top, distinctive brown nose, round wooden body, a tiny tail, and a joyous red “scarf” wrapping around his neck. Mr Moose has a calm and endearing demeanour, all ready to take over Rudolph’s role to be Santa’s most reliable helper. He is what we need for Christmas! 

(2) Bendable + Posable - Like all the other Anamalz figurines, my favourite feature of Mr Moose is his bendable, flexible, cotton-roped limbs and joints (with steel wire inserts) that give him the free-standing ability, and the amazing skill to strike up quirky and “magazine-cover worthy” poses! I am in love with its twistable scarf-covered neck, and I love how his moveable legs can create different standing and running poses. 

(3) Love The Quote - As always, I LOVE the witty and funny quote on the back of the hang tag. For Anamalz Moose, it’s “I do all my own stunts, but never intentionally." Nuff said 😉. 

(4) Sustainably Made - Anamalz is owned and designed in Australia, manufactured in a Japanese factory in Vietnam. The products are made of sustainable plantation beech wood, the fabric is AZO dye-free, paint is water-based and non-toxic, glue is Japan's F4 Star, and horns are made of soft TPR (an Eco-friendly substitute to plastic). Anamalz meets international toy testing standards, and offers lifetime guarantee (!!!). 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.anamalz.com/collections/roaming-mountains/products/moose

Enjoy the video! 

Australia Flora Puzzle, By Buttonworks Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden puzzle with Australian Flora theme 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Collectors of wooden puzzles (especially puzzles with a unique, rare-to-find themes)  

Buttonworks Australia has a series of wooden puzzles - they are beautifully made with rare-to-find Aussie themes that captivated my heart again and again. Today I want to share about this “Australia Flora Puzzle”. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Australian Native Flora - This puzzle features 6 well-known Australian native flora. My knowledge about anything botanical is embarrassingly limited, so it was really refreshing for me to get to know more about Aussie plants with the kids through this puzzle. We learned about Grevillea - its stunning blood-red spider flowers, its fast-growing, tough and low maintenance nature. We read about Golden Wattle and its resilience of withstanding Australia’s droughts, winds and bushfires, and how it becomes the symbol of unity and represents the spirit of the Australian people. We browsed through pictures of Kangaroo Paw to admire its distinctive flowers with finger-like projections and fine velvety hairs. There is also a Flowering Gum with bright red flower buds in group, ostentatiously gorgeous Waratah, and Banksia with its signature flower spike. The illustrations might seem a bit abstract, but they do display the distinctive features of the species. I love that it has the name of each plant printed in upper case beneath the puzzle pieces. 

(2) Easy Starter Puzzle - With only six puzzle pieces, this is a great “starter set” for young kids! The craftmanship of the puzzle is spectacular. The pieces were impressively laser-cut with smooth finishes. They fit nicely onto the puzzle board, and are easy for kids to manage. 

(3) Australian Made + Wooden Puzzle - I love that the product is proudly Australian made (in the serene Mornington Peninsula). Each puzzle is made from sustainably sourced Australian timber, where customers can choose from a selection of myrtle, Blackwood, Tasmanian oak, or “surprise me”. I love how Buttonworks acknowledges that each product varies in appearance and colours, just like how each tree is different. The timber materials used in the production is harvested in accordance with Australian Forestry standards. 

(4) Light & Compact - I love how light weight and compact the puzzle is. It’s safe to be handled by young kids and easy to bring around. 

Where to buy this: 

Buttonworks Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Geomag Glow (60 Pcs), By Geomag - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Glow-in-the-dark magnetic rods  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ (I would recommend supervised play for any kids under 5)

Who would love this: Kids and adults who enjoy building/ construction related toys (especially one that glows in the dark!) 

I love iconic architecture and I’m fascinated with structural designs that can stand up to the test of time. I LOVE construction toys, especially those that can demonstrate engineering principles in delightful way! We received this Geomag Glow (60 Pcs) recently, and I’m super stoked to test out this smartly-designed toy! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Build Exciting Structures - It’s fascinating to discover the building possibilities using just 28 spheres, 28 magnetic rods, and 4 plastic bases in square and pentagonal (illustrative guidance sheet included). That’s our basic structural elements: foundation, skeleton frame, and connectors. Each of the bar has magnets positioned on both ends, and can be joined together with angle adjustments using the steel spheres. First, lay out the  flat “foundation” with 2D geometric shape (rhombus, trapezoid, pentagon, or basic square etc), before building vertically upwards into something more structurally complex such as a tetrahedron (triangular pyramid), octahedron, hexahedron (cube), or dodecahedron (of 12 “surfaces”). We can also create unique structures with special characteristics, and I love the strong magnetic strength! 

(2) GLOW In The Dark - The kids are thrilled with the “glow in the dark” feature! The pale green rods can absorb and accumulate energy when exposed to a light source. Once the surrounding turns dark, the sticks glow brightly in sharp mysterious (and Halloween-feel) green! 

(3) 100% Recycled Plastic - The product is made of 100% recycled plastic, and the packaging is made with over 70% recycled materials. The magnetic rods attain their beautiful glow using 100% natural substances. I love that Geomag is made in Switzerland and is environmentally friendly! 

(4) Explore Magnetic Polarity - The set allows kids to explore the magic of polarity. It’s captivating to see how the bars and spheres interact with each other with embedded magnetism and invisible force! 

(5) Organised Storage Cases I also love the compact and compartmentalised plastic storage cases that keep all the rods and spheres neatly 

Geomag Glow comes in sets of 25, 42 and 60 pieces (in other words, this toy is full of potential to expand!) 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.kidstuff.com.au/products/geomag-glow-recycled-60 (Australia) 

https://www.geomagworld.com/en/classic/glow/ (Geomag Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Geometric Stacker, By Melissa & Doug - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden stacking toy 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents looking for colourful & fun toys for fine-motor skills  

Melissa & Doug Geometric Stacker is one of the most unique “ring-stacking” toys I have ever seen; it’s a rare 3-rods, 3-shapes, multi-coloured stacker. I think this is a fantastic toy for fine motor skill development, counting, shape-discernment, and colour-recognition. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 3-Styles-In-1 - I love the three-styles-in-one design. I love the exciting look of the thick and chunky rectangles, octagons, and circles with drilled holes; I love the varying of sizes, colours and forms of the 25 stacking pieces. I love that the rectangular pieces are thoughtfully crafted in “matching” pairs of five different measurements. The pieces can be mounted on top of each other, either randomly or in perfect order, resting over the three separate central poles stemmed from a sturdy base. There are three special “top red pieces” in orb, octagonal prism, and cube. These top pieces give the three towers a “finish” look, which reminds me of some spectacular multi-tiered cakes. I love that there are different ways of sorting and stacking these blocks - the younger kids can do it “free-style” by mixing and matching them in variety of combinations; the older kids can practise their sequencing and dexterity skills by arranging the pieces in descending order. I love that the toy encourages exploration process and is “self-correcting” for kids. I love how Melissa & Doug designed a classic educational toy by giving it a lovely twist of variation and style. 

(2) Wooden Material - As usual, Melissa & Doug made their toys using durable, strong wood material, and safe, non-toxic paints. I love how sturdy the toy looks, although I think some of the blocks could have sanded a bit better with smoother finishes. 

(3) Colours - I love the bright and bold colours of the blocks. There seems to be two versions of this Geometric Stacker set available online - a “rainbow-inspired” version, and a “randomised” version (with a more challenging colours arrangement, like the one above). 

(4) Versatile - These wooden pieces are versatile educational blocks that can be used in open-ended play, including small world creation and building fun! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.melissaanddoug.com/

Enjoy the video! 

Snakes and Ladders, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          "Snakes and Ladders" game, but in a classier and wooden version  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Classic/ wooden games collectors  

I have a confession: I don’t like “Snakes and Ladders” and I usually avoid it like a plague. I simply dislike anything where sheer luck plays a major role. My six-year-old is crazy about this game ever since he learned how to roll a dice. I have endured quite many torturous “Snakes and Ladders” sessions with him over the years, usually played on some confusingly illustrated, crowded, and cheaply-done game boards. 

BUT, what if there is a version that makes this game a little “classier”, short and sweet, and even ENJOYABLE? This wooden “Snakes and Ladders” game from Funyards Australia fits all the criteria that I’m looking for, and I’m genuinely pleased with the quality and design! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Simple & Clever Game Board - This is probably the BEST “Snakes and Ladders” game board I have ever seen. Instead of the common numbered and gridded squares design, what we have here is a board with holes that can securely hold the game pieces whilst we navigate them along the path. There is no more “accidentally knocking over the tokens” frustration, or disputes over which “square” did a token last stopped at. This feature is such a refreshing joy! I also love the simple, minimal, and clear illustrations without too many dizzying jumble of colours and additional details. I love that the design is classy enough for adults, and adorable enough for kids! 

(2) Sweet & Short Game - Instead of the usual 10 x 10 grid with 100 squares, this version is sweet and SHORT! The board has 8x8 grid design with ONLY 64 spaces - meaning, we get to end the game a bit faster, or play another few more rounds without having any single one dragging too painfully long. 

(3) Game Variation - The set comes with 8 game pieces (2 of each colours). We devised a new game variation where skill and strategy play a part (exactly that sort of game I love!), Each player rolls the dice, and decides which of the 2 game pieces should advance forward. THAT, is simply awesome! 

(4) Awesome Material & Design - The set is made of premium, light weight wood using non-toxic paint. I love the dice with dots of different colours on each side. The components can be stored in the sturdy box with the game board as lid. 

LOVE it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Tactile Puzzle - Zoo, By Janod - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Touch-and-Feel Puzzle 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 - 4 year-old  

Who would love this: Young kids who are exploring the beauty of puzzles & sensory elements   

Our kids grew up with a great collection of “touch and feel books”; they bring sweet memories, spark curiosity, and instil the love of reading into the very early years of the kids. So imagine our excitement when we found this “Tactile Puzzle - Zoo” by Janod. This beautiful puzzle combines our love for toys with the “feel element” commonly seen in toddler sensory books. It’s pretty awesome and too adorable! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Puzzle with Sensory Elements - Well, to start with, this is not your usual puzzle! It’s hidden with tactile surprises in seven of the 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces. Our kids were really excited when they discovered the special sensory elements incorporated into this vibrantly illustrated zoo puzzle. They caressed the soft and fluffy stripy coat of the gentle-looking tiger, the smooth and mellow pink fairy-floss feel of the elegant flamingo, the ultra silky giraffe’s body, and the long and cozy thick fur of the koala. They also enjoyed touching the rough, leathery, and slightly rubbery “skin” of the crocodile, monkey, and scaly gecko. I love how the nicely-done puzzle creates conversations, generates questions, and helps young kids to associate the varying textures with the different animals. This puzzle is interesting, visually-pleasing, and educational. 

(2) Zoo Animals - A puzzle on zoo animals theme never runs out of style! The 20 jumbo-sized puzzle collectively depicts a joyful scene in a zoo. Monkeys swing freely grabbing onto the hanging vines, koala snuggles lazily on a branch, alligator shows off a big yawn of sharp teeth. The colours are attractive, the illustrations speak to the kids. 

(3) Chunky & Jumbo-Size - The puzzle pieces are large, chunky, and easy to be managed by little hands. My two-year-old is able to complete the puzzle independently with very minimal help; my five-year-old finds this puzzle “too easy” but loves its uniqueness nevertheless! 

(4) Storage Case - I also love the sturdy storage box that cleverly includes some of the sensory textures on it. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.janod.com.au/

Enjoy the video! 

“LOGICO Primo” - Numbers Up To 10, by LOGICO - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Screen-free learning games 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents looking for non-electronic learning games for kids  

One GREAT thing about LOGICO Primo: they grow with the kids! We have tested out 3 different activity booklets from Logico (Australia) ; “Thinking Skills” is fantastic for 3-year-old, "Comparing Quantities” targets kids around 4 year-old. Today, I’m going to share about “Numbers Up To 10” activity book which is aiming for kids around 5 year-old. 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Non-Electronic Learning Game - Logico is a non-electronic game that “feels” like an IPad, but is screen-free. It is a breath of fresh air amidst many battery-operated and fast-paced games in market. To play with LOGICO Primo, you need a Primo board - which is a tablet-sized frame with colourful, tactile and chunky moveable buttons. With this, you can insert game cards of different skill levels into the slot and kickstart the learning. LOGICO encourages kids to solve problems by performing multiple stages of thinking, from comprehending the question, identifying the answers, matching the colours, to pushing the buttons. It is incredible watching the kids playing with it! 

(2) Skill Level & Age Specific Activities - Each activity booklet covers a specific area (shapes, colours, logical thinking, mathematics) and targets specific age bracket. For example, in “Comparing Quantities”, kids can complete the activities with just basic counting skill. For this “Numbers Up To 10”, kids need to do more than counting to solve the 16 puzzles; they need to be able to identify the actual numeral symbols (from 1 to 10). The activities include matching numeral symbols to the picture with identical number of objects, figuring out the “missing number” from a sequence, and comparing two sets of number (“more or less”). The illustrations are engaging, and the activities are arranged with progressive difficulty. 

(3) Self-Check Answers! - The best feature is the self-checking system! Once the puzzles are done, kids can simply flip the cards over and confirm the answers independently. I love that these games give the kids a sense of achievement! 

(4) Quality - This is a fantastic educational resources which would stand the test of time. The PRIMO frame is light-weight, solid, and compact, with no loose components. It is a marvellous travel companion! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

LOGICO (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

My Finger Maze Puzzle - Underground Houses, By mierEdu - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Finger-tracing and Spot-it puzzle for young kids  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young kids of around 2-3 year-old

I am fascinated with puzzles that embed with surprises and engaging details. “My Finger Maze Puzzle - Underground Houses” by mierEdu incorporates a number of FUN activities into the puzzle, keeping kids entertained for a long time even after the puzzle has been assembled! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Cute & Chunky Puzzle Pieces - It’s rare to find a puzzle targeting young toddlers, yet interesting enough to attract older kids and toys-loving adults (like this mumma here 🤣). The box set comes with 12 chunky, large puzzle pieces. The aim is to form a horizontally long puzzle, and make a continuing and indented path that moves seamlessly from one jigsaw piece to another when connected correctly. The puzzle is simple enough to be completed by young kids without much assistance, but also challenging enough to give the kids a sense of achievement! I love that the puzzle encourages independent learning, easy to be attached together by little hands and interlocked well.

(2) Adorable Illustrations - I am loving the whimsical, vibrantly colourful illustrations with hints of humour, jam-packed with adorable underground and above-ground animal characters, completes with cheeky activities that bring us a smile. We see farmer rabbits harvesting bushels of carrots, a “mice gym” with serious physical training going on, a family of chipmunks preparing meal, armadillo baby having a cuddly nap, crew of working ants collecting bright red toadstools, tortoises taking a warm bath underneath a pond of frogs, and a dinosaur-lookalike lizard enjoying reading time in his burrow! 

(3) Finger-Tracing Maze - Our kids love the finger-tracing exercise along the indented route that connects the various underground houses to the above-ground. This is like an adventurous maze that fills with exciting details; it’s “sensory”, promotes fine-motor skills, and engaging! 

(4) Spot and Find Game - There is also a “spot it” activity at the back of the storage box, where kids are asked to search for 20 different objects “hidden” within the puzzle (e.g. carrots, apples, toadstools, flowers, handheld mirror, ball, glasses, books). (5) I love the sturdy and quality storage box, and the chunky and young-kids friendly design of the puzzle! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.mieredu.com.au/

Enjoy the video! 

Tongues Out, by Blue Orange - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Memory game with extremely adorable squeezable pugs!!!  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids and Adults that love something fun, cute, squeezable! This is a super entertaining game for all ages. 

Blue Orange is INGENIOUS when it comes to creating the most hilariously entertaining memory games. From “Pengoloo” to “Dinoloo”, we have been HUGE fans of these games of immeasurable fun! Just when you thought this can’t get any better, Blue Orange delights us with its new “Tongues Out” that surpasses everything before that. This game is INSANELY cute (thank you, thank you, Leisure Learning for providing this to us!). ‬

‪Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Super CUTE - “Tongues Out” brings “memory games” to a whole new level! Included in the set are 12 cuteness-overload pugs with distinctive chubby face and folded ears, 2 “lollipop” dice, 4 parklet cards (with 6 spaces with numbers), and illustrated rules. ‬The story goes that these playful pugs have been licking and devouring lollipops  around, and now it’s up to us (the super-spies) to capture these incredibly adorable “culprits” by checking their colours-dyed tongues. The game rules are pleasingly simple: throw the dice, squeeze the pugs, and collect the dogs that have their tongues match the colours of the lollipops on the dice. The first player that found and accumulated 6 pugs wins the game. The kids laughed so hard and couldn’t stop squeezing the mischievous squishy pugs! This game is an immediate love, and you know this game is a success when the kids wanted to play with it 6 times in a row and kept asking for more. 

‪(2) Awesome First Board Game - This game is the perfect FIRST board game for kids. Apart from “memory training” (the aim is to remember colours of pugs’ tongues and where the dogs are to easily locate them on the player’s turn), it’s also an extraordinarily engaging game for colours recognition, matching skill development, and the pugs are very “sensory” as well. 

(3) Advanced Rules - There is also a more “advanced” version of rules for older kids where we get to “steal” pugs from another player’s parklet card. 

(4) Great Components - The components, as usual, are above and beyond as per many other Blue Orange games. The pugs are easy to squeeze even by little hands, look durable, and can be used in many imaginative play settings (our kids have been doing “pugs soccer game” with them 🤣 ). ‬

LOVE THIS! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/tongues-out (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Explore The Forest, By Headu - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Puzzle with Magic Torch included 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids that love puzzles + a little spot and find surprise 

I love puzzles that add a little extra and surprises. This “Explore The Forest” puzzle from Headu is exactly that sort of puzzle that makes my heart beats with joy - you assemble, discover, and get excited with the innovative design! 

Why I love ❤️ this puzzle: 

(1) Magic Torch - Like I said, this is more than just an ordinary puzzle! The 70 jigsaw pieces make a scene of colourful forest, jam-packed with flora and fauna, adventurous activities and unexpected items. The most prominent and BEST feature? The magic torch that uncovers the hidden and secretive objects that you can’t see with pure naked eyes! The two kids couldn’t stop shining the torch all over the assembled puzzle, admiring the completed artwork, and watching interesting bugs and invertebrates, random things and objects, appearing under blue light of the included UV torch: We found invisible bats, strange transparent scorpions, colourless trifoliate with three leaflets, hidden magnifying glasses and torch lights scattering all over the stunning forest scene! We felt like a family of spies and serious scientists, uncovering the secrets, mysteries and unknowns! 

(2) Find & Spot - Apart from the “unseeable” / concealed plants and animals and non-living objects, there are plenty more visible things to observe and spot (just like a green jungle version of “Where’s Wally?”). We found vibrantly red tropical hibiscus, rainbow-coloured parrots, cheetahs, thickly furred howler monkeys (or are they gibbons?), treasure maps, gigantic carnivorous plants, dazzling blue morpho butterflies, snapping alligators, a comical-looking nature explorer, compasses, and so many more! 

(3) Observation Pads at 4 Corners - The best thing? You get to tick off your discoveries with an erasable felt pen and 4 observation pads placed on each corner of the puzzle! This is definitely one of our favourite features of this puzzle; the two kids get to work cooperatively to spot and count the listed objects (from frying pans, binoculars, camping lanterns, frogs, to hummingbirds!). 

(4) Carry Case - We love the sturdy carry case and chunky cardboard material. You gotta love it when things are organised, fun, and made with quality in mind! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.headu.com/en/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Buildzi, By Carma Games - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Colourful Tower-Building Game 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: All ages board game lovers! 

Some games need no explanation: You know instantly it’s going to capture your heart and keep you engaged for hours! Buildzi is exactly that sort of game - it’s creative, colourful, and addictively fun. Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing this really awesome game! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Super Fun Building Game - Once you start stacking these blocks into various incredible and almost “gravity-defying” vertical structures, it’s impossible to stop! Buildzi comes with 32 blocks (4 sets of 8), 32 double-sided Tower Cards, and 32 Block Cards. To do the “Tower Cards” version, simply select a challenge, and replicate the structure on the card using a set of 8 pentomino blocks. Some challenges are straightforward and easy to accomplish. Some require certain sequence to be complied with in order to achieve the symmetrical balance to hold up the structures. This is an amazing game that teaches engineering concepts and structural integrity in an entertaining way! There are loads of surprise elements in this game, loads of “wow, I can’t believe I built this!”, and excited exclamations of “woah, it actually stands!”. One side of the cards display the complete colours and arrangements of all 8 blocks. The reverse side of the cards show the silhouette of towers in black, which makes it a tad trickier for kids. 

(2) Different Ways To Play - There are SO MANY ways to play with these blocks: solitarily, competitively, or cooperatively. This is a game for all ages and skill levels. In the “Block Cards” version,  players race to build the most epic tower following the order of the shuffled Block Cards. There is also a “solo game” version where player can build towers at their own pace without pressure of beating the time. 

(3) Colours! - The colours are SO visually attractive; they are BRIGHT, appealing, in rainbow-colours range, and loved by all kids almost immediately! 

(4) Light Weight + Durable Box - Material wise, the blocks are made of light weight plastic, which is a “less scary” option compared to the heavy wooden type. They don’t make deafening loud noises when the block towers collapse (which is great). I also love the sturdy box, with illustrative hints on how to re-arrange the blocks properly back into the box for quick and easy pack-up. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/buildzi (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!